Seattle, New York City 7s ready for second World Club 7s in London

LONDON, England – In search of more hardware, Seattle landed at Heathrow Airport Tuesday afternoon for this weekend’s Premiership Rugby World Club 7s at Twickenham Stadium.

Seattle booked its attendance at World Club 7s by winning the first-ever Elite City Sevens tournament in Houston, Texas, this June. Seattle followed that victory with a defeat of Old Blue of New York, 29-26, in the 2014 USA Rugby Emirates Airline Club 7s National Championship Cup Final in Seattle, Wash., Sunday, Aug. 10. The team’s six matches at Club 7s were won by a combined score of 157-64, with Old Blue’s 26 in the Final the most scored against Seattle.

Mike Te’o missed Club 7s due to injury, but is scheduled to return to the team with fellow Eagles John Cullen, Miles Craigwell, Peter Tiberio, Mike Palefau, Shalom Suniula, Kevin Swiryn, and Rocco Mauer, who were each instrumental in Seattle’s title win at Starfire Sports Complex.

Danny Barrett, who was in Ireland last weekend with San Francisco Golden Gate at the inaugural Limerick World Club 7s, will join the team in London, where an estimated sell-out crowd will watch Seattle battle Kuban Krasnodar, Auckland, and NSW Waratahs in Pool A.

New York City 7s returns to the event after winning the Plate in the competition’s first year. Nate Augspurger, Marcus Henderson, Luke Hume, and Derek Lipscomb were each in action for Old Blue in Seattle and will join other athletes from the Northeast Olympic Development Academy in London. Eagles Garrett Bender, Pono Haitsuka, Will Holder, Carlin Isles, and Seamus Kelly will also remain with the team after helping it reach the Plate Final in Limerick last weekend.

New York City 7s was drawn in Pool A with Russia’s RC Enisei, Harlequins, and DHL Western Province. Wins against Saracens and Vodacom Blue Bulls helped New York City 7s reach the Plate Final, but the Americans fell just short of a trophy with a 38-5 loss to Moscow Saracens.

New York City 7s will kick off the second annual World Club 7s against RC Enisei Saturday, Aug. 16, at 6:30 A.M. ET. Seattle opens its tournament account at 8:25 A.M. ET against NSW Waratahs. Follow @WorldClub7s on Twitter for updates from London.

Watch World Club 7s live on ESPN 3 beginning Saturday at 10:00 A.M. ET and Sunday at 7:00 A.M. ET.